Question of the Week: 1 - 8/7/2000Who are you going to vote for and why?Which political platform or candidate are you leaning towards? Do you think that a level of political involvement is important to pagans? Are you registered to vote, will you vote and who -if you don't mind telling the world- are you planning to vote for (or against)?

Being a registered voter, a Mother and a Green Witch, I find it very important that Pagans be politically involved.Who better to be a political force for the protection of the planet and its inhabitants?While patriarchy, big buisness and profit margins have left deep scars on our Mother and all her children, there is a political party bold enough to step out side of the box, a party who's vision is clear, un-tainted by the "pocket lining" corporate power mongers, who controll the Republicans and Democrats.

The "Green Party", with ideals such as Ecological Wisdom - Social Justice - Grassroots Democracy - Nonviolence - Decentralization - Community Based Economics - Feminism - Respect For Diversity - Personal and Global Responsibility and Future Focus, their the one party worthy of our votes!

With Ralph Nader and Winona LaDuke leading the "Green" campaign for deepend democracy, with an outlined vision where the interests of people are held above the demands of corporations, its an easy choice. The campaign will highlight universal health care, environmental and consumer protections, campaign finance reform, and strengthened labor rights as key policy issues.

Do not vote out of fear for the lessor of two evils! With that type of thinking you can be sure to *get* the lessor of two evils.

Find out more at http://www.votenader.com/ and http://www.greenparty.org/

Blessed Be!

Lenore

Everyone Is Spending A Lot Of Effort Getting Worked Up About National...

Everyone is spending a lot of effort getting worked up about national elections. The focus is, and should remain, on local elections. The national media can only talk about national issues, but the truth is that local elected officials contribute more to your day-to-day life than the president or even senators.

If you want your circle to have access to local parks, call your town council. If your coven wants to use a community center in bad weather, you gotta have the mayor on your side. If you are lucky enough to build a permanant group area, the zoning comission may stand in your way without local government on your side. The chief of police is an invaluable ally in almost any case.

By being on a first name basis with your state representatives, your mayor or council, your local elected officials, you will pave the way for a smooth relationship between your circle and the local government. By the time a religious issue is elevated to the national level it is already lost by all sides.

That said, I have to raise my voice in the wilderness and call my self a conservative. The republicans can no more take away our religious freedoms than the liberals can take away our right to protect our selfs because we are all protected by the fairest, most powerful document in the history of self government, the Constitution of the United States of America. It is as close to a 'National Religion' as this country should ever come. Time and again, in the military, local and national governments, the court system, every branch of government, Witches of all paths have had to fall back on the Constitution to protect their rights and have won.

1. I'm Registered To Vote, And I Do Vote. I Vote As...

Aug 8th. at 12:05:59 pm UTC

Carol (Columbus, Ohio US)

Age: 41

1. I'm registered to vote, and I do vote. I vote as an independent, but my choices are mostly Democrats. IMO, if you don't make at least a six-figure salary, you're just cannon fodder if you vote Republican.

2. With increasing attempts by the Religious Right to co-opt politics for their own agenda, it is critical that we vote our consciences in order to reclaim/retain our basic rights. The biggest concern to me is the future appointments of Supreme Court justices, though there are local concerns like school board members and others.

3. I will be voting for Al Gore. Why? Because George Dubya declared Jesus Day on June 10. His state seems to have more violations of rights of religious minorities than any other state I hear about. The school prayer case came from Texas, and there was a near lynching and continued assaults of a Jewish middle school boy in that community accompanied by the usual hate speech. GW hasn't bothered to speak out against this. He tries to paint non-Christians as somehow less "American" than Christians. His efforts at inclusiveness are laughable, mere tokenism, and doesn't include non-Christians. Most of all, he said on Good Morning America last year that our religion isn't real or valid! Excuse me?! I am concerned for our First Amendment rights should he become president. This doesn't even include his environmental record, his education record, etc.!

I must commend Al Gore on picking Joseph Lieberman. Despite Lieberman's conservatism and interaction with conservative Christian groups, IMO this is a good choice. Ground breaking, different, a *non-Christian* as a running mate. The choice of Lieberman has effectively killed the Bush campaign efforts to paint the Gore ticket as one of moral dereliction. Gore is a Christian who is ecumenical and inclusive in his outlook. Because Jewish people are sometimes discriminated and oppressed as much as Pagans in this country, I'm sure Gore/Lieberman will be sensitive to our minority status. I personally follow the protests of the American Jewish Congress and other Jewish groups against oppression by the Religious Right. I consider Jewish people to be kin to Pagans in their minority status, and usually what's good for Jews politically is good for us, too.

We have a discount store here owned by a Jewish family that is very popular. They are always closed on the *Jewish* sabbath. In a homogeneous, mostly Christian city, it's great to have this little reminder to Christians that there are other people on this planet besides themselves, and that we all have to live together and breathe the same air. With Lieberman refusing to campaign on the Sabbath, I think the Gore/Lieberman ticket will do something similar for the country, and make life safer for us, and for all non-Christians in this country.

I really don't see anyone wortth going to the polls to vote for really. The only candidate I like that is running for national office is Marc Perkel, running to replace John Ashcroft in Congress. (see: www.perkel.com/nerds/nlm or www.perkel.com/pbl) Needless to say I know him personally and while I do not completely agree with him, for the most part he has his mind in the right place. While he claims to be a non-observent reformed Jew many of his viewpoints agree with Wiccan phillosophies.

The rest of the pack reminds me of the constant argument of which editor do you like best: emacs? vi? pico? It just doesn't matter to me, I prefer pico for news and mail and emacs for everything else; but I will use vi if it is all I have available. (Needless to say I don't do MS Whendoze.)

I'll be voting for Gore/Lieberman as the lesser of the evils... would like to vote for Nader but it is too important to me to keep the Republicans out of the Presidency. I have several reasons for that; the Republicans still have anti-abortion and anti-gay planks in their platform, they support a litmus test of being anti-abortion for Federal Judges (and with the next President possibly naming as many as 3-4 Supreme Court Justices that is ample reason right there), Bush doesn't like reading policy as it bores him, he has not really accomplished that much, one of his major advisors is Ralph Reed who used to head the Christian Coalition (again a reason for pagans in particular to vote against him), and Bush seems to be so blinded by his religion that I doubt he would see some of the things pagans would consider religious discrimination to be so.

Corporations have bought all of the candidates who could possibly win (see Jim Hightower's book _If the Gods Had Meant Us to Vote They Would have Given Us Candidates_, which will shock you to the core). So given that limitation, I'll vote for the candidate who will in my opinion do the least harm to the fewest people, and hope that we can force a political revolution somehow - such as by reforming campaign financing drastically.

A level of involvement is important for everyone. Paganism is trendy right now, but we are still weak compared with the Religious Right, who specifically want to take away our religious rights. I would think that the fact that the Religious Right backs Bush is sufficient reason not to vote for him.

It is so difficult to find good information. One way is to find someone you trust who is knowledgeable. Right now Molly Ivins and Jim Hightower are sources I trust... but I also read news. There is a service called Backwire that sends out a daily newsletter called Today's Headlines that summarizes and links to articles in important sources such as the New York Times, CNN, the Washington Post, etc.

Molly Ivins: http://www.star-telegram.com/columnist/ivins2.htm

Jim Hightower: http://www.jimhightower.com/

Backwire: http://www.backwire.com/

Policy.com Issues Library: http://www.policy.com/issues/ (this site links to articles/news on important issues)

Center for Responsive Politics: http://www.opensecrets.org/home/index.asp (this site allows you to track who gives money to which politicians)

Political Information.com: http://www.politicalinformation.com/ (lots of political links)

I encourage you to be informed, and to vote!

Thanks.

I Think A Basic Level Of Politicalinvolvement Or At Least Knowledge Is...

I think a basic level of politicalinvolvement or at least knowledge is, for me, a vital, key part of a Pagan path. As we are all only too aware, there are those who would deny us and others our basic rights because we differ from their imagined majority.

But even beyond that, I think Pagans have a fundamental responsibility to make our voices heard in the political arena. To me, walking a Pagan path involves a values and a vision and perspective that is, sadly, not well represented in the political life of our nation. As someone who believes that the Earth is living and sacred and that all who dwell upon Her are interconnected and sacred, I feel a strong duty to oppose the policies of my government that rape the Earth and cheapen life, and to support policies of economic justice, sustainable development and genuine, participatory democracy. A primary litmus test for any program or government policy should be, "Does this enhance and respect Life, or demean and destroy it?" Forget about the stock market, nationalism, industrial development, or so called "welfare reform." Does it enhance and respect Life, or demean and destroy it?"

A Pagan path may not be for everyone, but I deeply believe that the nature and life affirming values of Paganism are vital if we're to have a future for ourselves and our progeny that would be worth living. Unlike other spiritual traditions, which have as their focus the attainment of an other worldly Heaven or Nirvana, Pagans are intensely focused on this world, believing that heaven is right here if we have the vision and courage to make it so. To opt out of political participation seem to me to be abandoning our finest ideals.

Right now I'm leaning strongly toward Ralph Nader and the Greens as the best representatives of my values in the Presidential race. I look forward to seeing the thoughts of others on these issues.

Dan Fireheart

On The Questions... I Am Personally Torn Between The Honestly Representative Platform...

I am personally torn between the honestly representative platform of Ralph Nader and the Green Party, and the electable, but not very representative platform of Al Gore and the Democratic Party.

Political involvement is critical the survival of any minority group in a democracy. To be uninvolved is to risk the tyranny of the majority, and possibly persecution and extinction. Mind you, this is what CAN happen. I don't think it likely, but that's not a reason to avoid the task.

I am registered to vote, do so in every election, and (for once in my life) I haven't decided just who I'll give my vote this time around...

Ok First Question - Yes I Am Absolutly Registered To Vote... A Wise...

Ok first question - yes I am absolutly registered to vote... A wise man told me a long time ago that if you don't vote you don't have a right to bitch... and let's face it I like to complain...

Now as to WHO I'm for? To be totally honest I am Democrat however - that doesn't mean that if I honestly belived that the Republican canidate was a better choice I would blindly vote for the Democrat.That said - I have to go with Gore, for several reasons...

First - Gore is for the enviorment and in the time he has been in office he has actually sought to do more then TALK about what could be done for our planet.

TWO - He keeps it real, he's not afraid to change his mind as he learns and grows (Fancy that a politican that learns and grows from past mistakes - and come to think of it oh mercy my one who can actually ADMIT he makes them.)

On the other hand is Bush...

The man strikes me as a puppet for the Colitian and groups like it. I honestly fear for seperation of church and state if he is elected... he has already gone on record as saying that he will destroy the seperation and that he will ban pagans from the military.

All in all I would say that this time out it is not only a responsability but an act of self defense to go to the polls and vote... before everything we hold sacred is trambled beneath a giant Elephant bearing a flameing cross.

I'm Voting Democratic Because Social Issues Are Of Extreme Importance To Me...

I'm voting Democratic because social issues are of extreme importance to me. I believe we should exercise our right to vote- I'm even a voter registrar who can register others to vote. Gore's position on environmental issues satisfies me and, though I'd like him to be more left, I'm willing to compromise and be pragmatic in order to get him elected.

I don't understand anyone in the pagan community voting for Bush, who clearly refuses to recognize witchcraft as a religion. Bush's "compassionate conservatism" is merely a thin veil for intolerance and promotion of his own ideals.

I must lean toward the Democratic party 99% of the time. I just can't ethically vote for a party that espouses a Christian way of life. While I aplaude their strong faith and confidence in their beliefs, I do not necessarily agree with them. I agree they have the right to believe as they will, but so do I.

Just as when women and blacks were finally "allowed" to vote, I believe that pagans must also vote so that our freedoms are not allowed to be eroded away.

I registered to vote the day after I turned 18 and have re-registered every time I've moved. I vote in every major election and I vote in most local elections

I Feel That A Certain Level Of Pagan Political Involvement Is Almost...

I feel that a certain level of pagan political involvement is almost expected of us. Many people in society still view us as a part of 'fringe' society, living on the very edges of normalcy. Through voting and voicing our opinions in politics, we can hope to keep our seat on the cliff of so-called 'normal' society. Not that politics is the answer to anything, we certainly cannot sit back and wait for the politicians to work for us, we must work for ourselves! I am registered to vote in this coming election and I know, in my heart of hearts, that even if my choices are not elected to office, I can tell others that I did make a difference. Remember -- If you don't vote, don't gripe! In summary, Go Nader!

As Much As I Hate To Say It, I'm Inclined Towards Gore...

Aug 8th. at 2:40:59 pm UTC

Paul (San Bruno, California US)

Age: 27

As much as I hate to say it, I'm inclined towards Gore. George W Bush is the biggest Twinkie I've ever seen artificially elevated into politics. He's incompetent and not even not even that presentable. At least his father had some sense of statesmanship about him.

I grew up in a Republican family, and for the longest time I preferred the Republican candidates; I so much preferred Reagan and Bush (Sr.) over the lame guys the Democrats had come up with to run against them. I was disappointed when Clinton won in '92, and I still don't think he should be credited with a lot of the progress the country's made since then. However, Since Clinton won, I've not seen a Republican candidate come up to bat that seem to have had more than two brain cells to rub together. Maybe Steve Forbes, but I don't think he'd necessarily be a good President; his strength would've been in working with the US economy, but the President doesn't do that much for the economy directly (at least so far as I can tell).

I definitely think involvement is important for pagans, simply because we know there are religions actively working against us. Unfortunately, that means we can't be complacent in these affairs. Somebody nominate an atheist President, and he'll get my vote every single time.

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